Stray dog leads to turnpike accident

FALMOUTH – A stray dog on the Maine Turnpike led to a crash Saturday afternoon that injured four people and resulted in the deaths of two dogs in one of the vehicles involved in the crash, state police said.

According to Trooper Duane Doughty, several drivers on the northbound side of the highway near mile 54 stopped due to a dog running loose near the turnpike.

Alicia Staley, 37, of Auburn, who was driving on the southbound side of the highway, slammed on her brakes in response to the activity on the northbound side, Doughty said. Staley’s van was then hit from behind by a car driven by Kristy Pendexter, 39, of Gray.

Staley’s van rolled over in a ditch because of the collision, which occurred around 1:30 p.m. Two dogs in her van were killed and one was injured as a result of the crash.

Staley and her passenger, a 15-year-old girl, were taken to Maine Medical Center for treatment of pain and cuts. Pendexter and her passenger, Daniel Call, 41, of Gray, were also taken to Maine Medical Center for pain and cuts.

Both vehicles were totaled, Doughty said, and traffic was backed up for about 90 minutes.

State police said the stray dog apparently ran off and there are no reports that it was hit by a car.

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